Queer Faction is a radical queer group, based in Ottawa, challenging gender oppression, patriarchy, heterosexism and all other oppression within the queer community and society at large.
We believe in the complete freedom of sexual and gender expressions, harnessing the power of grassroots to express solidarity and confront oppression.

*** Hello! This email is to solicit your feedback, contributions, andcollaboration for the planning and development of this workshop. We arehoping to gather as much ideas and input from members of our communitiesas possible over the course of the next month, in the interest of makingthis workshop/ discussion and strategizing session relevant to ourstruggles as folks doing queer activism, organizing, or community work; oras queers doing organizing work in other struggles.

This email is to briefly outline the rough framework of the workshop as itwas initially envisioned, as well as to outline some questions to considerin responding to this callout.

*** THE WORKSHOPWe proposed this workshop as members of different queer organizations withthe intention of taking advantage of the opportunity offered to us by theBookfair to hold a discussion and strategizing session among other groupsand queers from across Quebec, the US and Canada.

We identified four key obstacles or barriers we face in our struggleswhich we hope to foreground in these conversations: (1) French/Englishdivides, (2) Generational divides between older and younger queers, (3)

The US/Canada border, (4) Rural/urban divides.

We especially wanted to focus on these barriers as ones we continue toface despite attempts by gay assimilation to push these off the agenda,and to collaboratively develop concrete solutions and strategies to workagainst these obstacles.

*** QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. In what ways have you encountered these obstacles (French/Englishdivides, generational divides, the US/Canada border, and rural/urbandivides) in your organizing or community work?

2. How have you seen these obstacles play our in other kinds oforganizing or work you do?

3. What kinds of strategies, if any, have you put in place or seen put inplace to counter these obstacles?

4. What kind of workshop structure do you think makes the most sensegiven the topic and themes? (a) branch into smaller discussion groups andreport back, (b) large facilitated group discussion, or (c) another formataltogether

5. Is there any specific feedback you would like to give us about the waywe've laid out this framework? Is there anything you would like toforeground, or specific ways you hope to see the workshop unfold?

*** PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR CONTACTS, FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE COMING TOTHE BOOKFAIR, AND IN PARTICULAR FOLKS WHO WOULD HAVE IDEAS TO CONTRIBUTEON THE THEMES OUTLINED ABOVE.

Thanks for your feedback and ideas. Hope to see you in May!- Anonymous queers / workshop organizing committee____________________________________The workshop is co-presented by members of: Naughty North (Maine), thePrisoner Correspondence Project (Montreal), and Q-Team (Montreal).

Q-team is a radical queer collective whose work focuses on creatinganti-racist, anti-capitalist, and anti-assimilationist queer spaces andevents in Montreal.

The Prisoner Correspondence Project is a Montreal-based collective thatsupports gay and trans folks and queers inside prisons across the US andCanada through a penpal program, programming, and a resource library onwriting about queer survival behind bars.

Naughty North is a radical queer direct-action collective based in Mainecommitted to resisting the devastating violence inherent in the consumerdriven assimilationist gaystream!

Queer fAction is a radical queer group, based in Ottawa, challenging gender oppression, patriarchy, heterosexism and all other oppression within the queer community and society at large. We believe in the complete freedom of sexual and gender expressions, harnessing the power of grassroots to express solidarity and confront oppression.

Basis of Unity

Visibility:-Essential to our struggle, we must be visible as queer people in our communities.-Smashing closets, repression, and self-hate.-We are open to being perceived as queer during our meetings and actions.-Marginal voices cannot possibly be articulated by one monolithic queer group on campus or within our communities.-We oppose all forms of assimilation as death through erasure.-We will create a radical presence at queer events and a queer presence at radical events.

Anti-Oppression:-Active opposition to racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, HIV/AIDS stigma, classism, heteronormativity and homophobia within Queer fAction, queer communities, and our community at large.-Recognizing power relations within our groups and communities, and acting to eliminate social hierarchies.

Solidarity and Coalition-building:-Acting in solidarity with other oppressed groups, who may not identify as queer.-Building relationships with other oppressed groups and activist groups.-Recognizing that we are acting on unceded Algonquin land

Grassroots:-Operating our group at the community level, independent from any state or government.

Non-violent Direct Action:-Actions that are ends in themselves, or lead to concrete ends.

Accessibility:-Events and meetings should be wheelchair accessible.-Published items ought to be (at least) French-English bilingual.-Language should be accessible; specialized or academic vocabulary and concepts should be defined or explained.

Sex-positivity and Sexual Health:-Acknowledging the ultimate right of individuals to engage in consensual sex acts and relationships, with anybody, with any motivation, paid or unpaid.-We support the use of harm reduction methods (including but not limited to the use of barriers, education, and testing), as we recognize the effects of HIV-AIDS and other STIs on queer communities as well as other communities

Anarchy:-Operating our group without hierarchies, coercive power, or internal authority.

Consensus decision-making:-Decisions made by the group should be supported by (or acceptable to) all members present.-Ultimate decision-making capacity is held by individuals who have attended 2 Queer fAction meetings and have agreed to the Basis of Unity of the group.-At least 3 members with decision-making capacity must be present at meetings to have quorum

Voluntary Association:-Recognizing individuals' rights to act independently or with the group.

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-This is a living document and is subject to annual review each spring, by consensus, while maintaining the integrity and spirit of the original document.

-Translation of the document can be agreed upon at regular Queer fAction meetings, outside of the annual review